Conference Description

The 2017 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) "Chemical
and Biological Terrorism Defense" and its companion Gordon Research
Seminar (GRS), will showcase exciting, innovative basic and translational
research in the areas of biological and chemical threat agents, underscored by
myriad opportunities for intensive discussion and networking between young and seasoned
researchers from academia, government, medicine and biotech. This biennial
international conference continues to be regarded by the biological and chemical
defense communities as a premier venue for intellectual exchange and
cross-disciplinary fertilization. To be held March 4-10 at the Ventura Marriott
in Ventura California, the 2017 conference is led by Chair Steven Blanke,
Ph.D., and Vice Chairs Catharine Bosio, Ph.D. and Patrick McNutt, Ph.D. Each
scientific session will be crafted to highlight and engender themes and
solutions common to both the chemical and biological threat communities. These,
nine sessions will feature 32 invited speakers plus 4 young
investigators/trainees that will be selected from the GRS, chosen to integrate
cutting-edge research on: mechanisms, sources, and treatment of biological and chemical threats; the threat of non-human targets
to human health disease; translational approaches for countermeasures and
prevention; and cross-disciplinary solutions to detection and decontamination. Emerging
issues of scientific and security importance, such as gene drives, and, new
smart detection devices, will be featured. Poster sessions will
promote extended discussions between investigators within and across
disciplines and ranks. To integrate and develop the next generation of
scientists in our field, the GRC will be preceded by a GRS. Together the
Seminar and Conference promise to provide an exceptional forum for a diverse
population of scientists to learn about cutting edge discoveries in the field,
and consider and challenge the current paradigms, barriers and opportunities to
advancing knowledge in the areas of defenses against chemical and biological
threat agents.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Chemical and Biological Terrorism Defense (GRS)" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Arrival and Check-in

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Dinner

7:30 pm - 7:40 pm

Introductory Comments by GRC Site Staff / Welcome from the GRC Chair

7:40 pm - 9:30 pm

Keynote Session: The Ever Changing Landscape of Threats to Human Health and Security

Discussion Leader: Steven Blanke (University of Illinois, USA)

7:40 pm - 7:45 pm

Opening Remarks

7:45 pm - 7:50 pm

Introduction by Discussion Leader

7:50 pm - 8:15 pm

Arik Eisenkraft (Institute for Research in Military Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel)

"OP or Not OP, that Is the Question"

8:15 pm - 8:25 pm

Discussion

8:25 pm - 8:50 pm

Owain Edwards (CSIRO Land and Water, Australia)

"How Concerned Should We Be About Gene Drive Technologies?"

8:50 pm - 9:00 pm

Discussion

9:00 pm - 9:20 pm

Adam Ruben (Johns Hopkins University, USA)

"Public
Perception of Chemical and Biological Terrorism"

9:20 pm - 9:30 pm

Discussion

Monday

7:30 am - 8:30 am

Breakfast

9:00 am - 12:30 pm

Neural Dysfunction: Mechanisms, Detection, and Countermeasures

Discussion Leader: John McDonough (U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, USA)

"Intraneuronal Delivery of Single Domain Antibodies for Treatment of Post-Symptomatic Botulism"

10:15 am - 10:25 am

Discussion

10:25 am - 10:55 am

Coffee Break

10:55 am - 11:25 am

Andrew Pickett (Toxin Science Limited, United Kingdom)

"Botulinum Toxin - From Biothreat to Biomedicine"

11:25 am - 11:35 am

Discussion

11:35 am - 12:05 pm

Pamela Lein (University of California, Davis, USA)

"A Tale of Two Threat Agents: OPs and TETS"

12:05 pm - 12:15 pm

Discussion

12:15 pm - 12:30 pm

Poster Previews

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Lunch

1:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Free Time

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Power HourThe GRC Power Hour is an optional informal gathering open to all meeting participants. It is designed to help address the challenges women face in science and support the professional growth of women in our communities by providing an open forum for discussion and mentoring.